Martin Baturina, take a bow! The 23 year-old Croatian midfielder not only scored Como’s first ever Champions League goal Thursday night in a 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig, but he also assisted and was voted MOTM with an exceptional 9.2 SofaScore rating,
Igor Matanović bagged two goals for Freiburg Saturday in a 5-0 thumping of Borussia Monchengladbach. Matanović now has 3G/1A in the first three Bundesliga matches of the season as Freiburg remain perfect in Germany. Matanović received an 8.9 SofaScore rating playing 78 minutes on the day.
Luka Modrić got the start for AC Milan Saturday but only played the 1st half as AC Milan came back from a 2-goal deficit to draw Lazio 2-2. Modrić received a 6.3 SofaScore rating on the day.
Joško Gvardiol, Mateo Kovačić and City take on United in the Manchester Derby Sunday 11:30AM (ET)
Luka Vušković and Brighton travel to Coventry City Sunday at 9AM (ET)
Hate to be the bearer of bad news,
George Chuvalo just passed. 89y/o.
We were just talking about him on here when Hrga won, saw someone mention him..
It was time.
His last few years were a struggle with dementia, and his Croatian durability just kept him alive to almost 90 years of age.
The man is a legend and will finally rest in peace with his kids.
Adrien Thomasson
Croatian mother
Same age as Misic – scored a fox in the box goal today – let’s call him Bilic
Matanovic looks like he had a good summer.
Dude looks like he hit the gym.
Good for him, looks ripped
We need him
He had a good World Cup too.
But unfortunately for us, he was our third-choice striker behind Budimir and Musa.
Dalic got a lot wrong in this past World Cup by benching Vuskovic, Petar Sucic, Matanovic and going all-in on an injured Gvardiol (with no backup fullbacks). Bilic has such an easy job now.
indeed
Igor looks dangerous.
That first goal was a heck of strike, he first-timed the pass and hit the ball with precision . . . right off the inside of the post. The keeper had little chance.
The announcer said that you can’t teach that kind of natural goal scoring instinct that Matanovic displayed.
The three biggest stories in the past 12-14 months have been the emergence of Baturina, Petar Sucic, and Vuskovic as star young players in top five leagues . . . .
But we are almost at the point where we can say that Igor is becoming a similar story, a fourth such story. I think he is better right now than many people thought he ever would be. In just a short time, he has gone from a young striker with potential who got very little playing time, to a top Bundesliga striker on a very good Freiburg club.
Here is the question: what are the chances that over the next 12-24 months, just 2-3 more such stories might emerge, 2-3 players who will come to the fore, players that we don’t really have on the NT radar right now.
If that were to happen, looking at this emerging core group, you’d have to like the quality of our NT heading into 2028/2030.
Yeah, really liked the fact that he took some time and worked out. Looks 7-10 lbs heavier than Toronto.
With his death-stare and now little heavier he’s gonna be ok
As Anonymous eye test reported at the time Igor was GREAT vs Portugal when he came on
So Anonymous is personally not surprised by this next step in performance
He needs to go through the whole season at this level – then we know he’s the real deal
Suspect Freiburg will get many many offers for him in the winter transfer window – but he should stay put and produce – he can move in the summer if he really wants to (but only to a team where he’ll have a shot to be the main man)
Freiburg only paid 6 million for him a year ago.
They’re going to make a killing off him. Transfermarkt had him at 22 million before the World Cup. I expect that number to double by the end of the season.
Sunday ET
9am Vuskovic
11am Skafar-Zuzic
2:30 Jaga ❤️ ❤️❤️😘🤗
Biondic two assists
Should be called up
It would be criminal if he’s not called up in the next window.
Has he expressed interest in playing for us?
Also you really have to admire USG scouts. They probably have one of the best track records in the world currentlyz
He’s already played for us at U14 same team as Igor, Franjo, Vidovic
https://x.com/lessmore_cro/status/2007698774353948822?s=46
Mandic
4 goals
Zero saves
At least we know why he’s been on the bench for over a year with no minutes
Sutalo subbed off at 83rd minute.
2-2 Lazio-Milan at this point.
One bad blunder in second half, but overall he was steady in his first game in a long while.
I didn’t watch but SofaScore has him as the worst rated player on the field
He was solid enough . . .
But as I say, one very bad blunder in the second half . . . he gave Pulisic the ball, who then had a clean break toward the Lazio goal, Sutalo was lucky that Milan did not score on that play . . . I think that probably dropped his SofaScore rating a great deal.
I watched Sutalo a fair bit in the Eredivisie. His first and third seasons were poor. When he was a dominant force in the second season, 2024-25, and named to the Eredivisie all-start team (or “Eredivisie Team of the Year” or whatever they call it) at the end of that season, it seemed like he was on his way . . . in fact it seemed he had fulfilled a prediction that you, Maminjo, made right here after his first bad season at Ajax . . you said that in time Sutalo would be one of the best defenders in the entire Eredivisie. And so it was in 2024-25. He proved you right when everyone else doubted.
But . . . then he inexplicably went backward.
In that stellar season, 2024-25, where I thought he excelled was, for example, at interceptions. He seemed to anticipate plays as well as any defender in the league, and rather than waiting until the ball came in to the opposing striker, Sutalo would accelerate forward and break up the play, sometimes with a clean interception. He was damn good at interceptions. What I thought was particularly good after he intercepted the ball, is that he was so crisp and accurate with his passes up field, that he created a dramatic transition game for Ajax . . . and they had a good season that year, only blowing the league title after a few bad losses at year end.
I cannot say what is wrong with Sutalo, or what changed last season and into World Cup . . . is it simply confidence? . . . given that Lazio’s games are pretty accessible on television, maybe you, or Slavonac, or Crnkovic, or some of the usual suspects, can watch his play in Serie A, and explain why he is not playing at his potential.
Osijek 4 v Dinamo 2
Watched the last 15 minutes of this unbelievable result in Osijek. This surely will be the end of Mario Kovacevic.
Osijek struggling in the last few weeks after selling their 3 best and senior players put in a tremendous performance probably one of their best performances in HNL history?
Should be the end of Kotarski, Misic, Beljo and Stojko call ups to the NT
MART, maybe the recent 3-1 loss to Segesta was a wake up call for Osijek?
Maybe that kicked them in the rear end?
Not to look too far ahead this early in the season, but are you beginning to wonder if Hajduk’s chances to top the HNL in 2026-27 might be just a little bit better than you thought they were only 3-4 weeks ago?
Lazio 2-0 over Milan at half.
Sutalo has started and is playing solidly.
Modric had a rough first half.
Modric was horrendous
Sutalo was great!
So we have a future potential star with Matanovic and Bilic is like yeah let’s call 6 strikers for a tryouts ok?
Misic is not national team material and 32 years old but Bilic thinks he’s Rodri.
Ac Milan coach admits modric can’t press obviously he’s 41 but he can help with possession. But even though we have so many midfielders that can press and keep possession let’s still keep modric makes sense.
Krama literally needs a cane to walk
Still makes no sense to be dropping Modric. At 41 he’s obviously not built for the high pressing AC Milan wants to play, but he’s great for the possession game the Croatian national team has played for years and still one of our best options. Even if we ignore his legacy, the quality is there
I mean if Modric wants to keep playing, I don’t think any coach would have the power to keep him off the team.
Unfortunately, Modric also the influence to keep the rest of his old buddies on the team too.
A+ Post right here. CroCan sums up our dilemma, yes dilemma with this guy perfectly.
10 needs to go pronto
The imo ideal situation would be to only call up players who would be in contention to play in the next Euros. Let someone like Kova be the veteran and experiment with the younger players.
If we make it out of the group stage, then we can bring back some of the older guys, namely Luka and Perisic and give them one last chance to win a tournament. But preferably, we would still use them as pieces off the bench.
Anonymous endorses this message
Nice to see Krama get sidelined since he’s back – hopefully it continues and Bilic can disinvite him
Yeah, he’s another one. Guy plays 22 minutes this summer, obviously hurt but still takes the free trip to North America with his wife and kids.
Real sweet that el cheapo would do that and taking away a roster spot from one of our youngsters who would have benefited from the experience exponentially..
Andrej had other thoughts tho..
As previewed
Ivan Mandic starts starts starts
Since PL started, in 33 visits to Stamford Bridge the Sprs have only won once
Jakirovic almost does it his first time (and he deserved the win not a draw)
3rd in table with 8 points (each point is worth so so much)
Unreal stuff
Looking over Hull pre-season, even the 99.8% Anon eye test did not see this fantastic start coming.
Each point is huge in order to escape relegation. Looks like Jakirovic is more than 20% of the way there already . . .
Dinamo currently losing 2-0 to Osijek at the 36 minute mark. Osijek looks motivated, Vrbancic especially is playing out of his mind.
But once again, I ask: what is Micic doing in the NT? Obvious Dinamo bias from the HNS
Misic*
Vrbancic was playing really well last season until his injury. This season he has been the best central midfielder in the HNL. He looks twice the player Misic is right now.
He’s just gotten himself a goal as well. A very impressive and underrated player.
Jo,
A good question. I do not have an answer.
Kotarski beaten for four . . .any comments on Kotarski? Maybe he had no chance on any of those goals . . . ?
I saw all of Osijek’s goals but the last. Maybe Kotarski could have done better on the second goal? But no chance on the first and third. He also had a couple decent saves.
Olic cried to keep Vrbrancic too
Meanwhile Hungary’s 8 best under 21 players already with A team (that hasnt qualified for a WC since 1986 lol)
Following Igor’s BRACE today – Top 5 leagues Goals + Assists table:
9 Raphinha (8+1)
9 Matanovic (6+3)
7 Yamal (5+2)
And you MORONS are debating about Musa, Budimir, Beljo, etc lol
Learn ball
Why do you always feel the need to call people on this site morons lol
Yeah there is no debate at this point. Matanović has to start.
If nothing else, it appears we can conclude this entire string in unanimous agreement on at least one point: Matanovic is not a moron.
The look Nico Paz is giving Baturina in that photo, is the look of a man who just had his team snatched away from him.
I think they get along well.
Do they both have a future at Real Madrid?
And what about Cesc going back to Spain?
Yes, Cesc has Barcelona roots . . . but Cesc has made it clear he is open to going to Real Madrid. And Real Madrid has made no secret of the fact that they keep Cesc on their shortlist . . .
Could they all end up at Real? Cesc, Paz, and Bati?
Hull
Weird thing
Their new signings are still not in the starting XI and only a few on the bench
Either Jakirovic is too loyal to guys who got him to the PL and/or the players they bought aren’t actually good enough
Feels odd
Don’t be silly anonymous these things take time. Human beings, not chess pieces
Dear Jaga –
Please don’t be like Guy Ritchie
Lock Stock and Snatch is your time at Slaven
Madonna is your GF draining your balls every minute – where it all went pear shape
Poof – 20 years go by – till he releases the Gentlemen
Let’s try to follow more the Tarantino arch and career path
Ok ?
Love, Hugs and Kisses
Anonymous
Saturday ET
09:30 Vidovic vs Kovac
09:30 Igor
09:30 Krama
10:00 jakirovic Stamford Bridge
10:00 Segecic
10:00 Crnac
10:30 Pjaca
12:00 Modric vs Sutualo
13:00 hearing Ivan Mandic first start vs Porto (Andre Gomes still injured) – someone watch and report back!
14:45 Super Mario
14:45 Biondic
15:00 Darko